Semiautomatic toy balloon vending and inflating machine

ABSTRACT

This machine vends the balloon envelope and string in a capsule upon deposit of a coin and turning of a knob. Then a button on the machine is automatically lighted signalling the customer that upon depression of the button, after application of the neck of the balloon to a nozzle adjacent the button, the balloon will be inflated. The vending mechanism released for operation of the knob by depositing a coin has a novel arrangement of magnetically operable electrical switches that are so connected in an electrical circuit that they have to be operated in succession to light the signal light and activate the inflation means, thereby preventing activation of the inflation means more than once per coin deposited. There is also novel memory means in the electrical circuit which permits depositing several coins at one time for the vending of a number of balloon capsules in succession, the memory means serving after the first of the balloons has been inflated to cause the button to be lighted again signalling that the machine is ready for another cycle, and so on until all of the coins deposited have been accounted for.

United States Patent [72] lnvcntor Rudolph L. Allison 3,191,801 6/1965Standish 222/3X Rockford, Ill. 3,380,490 4/1968 Ellenberg et a] 141/181X i No. 1969 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman 5] Patented Feb 197Attorney-Andrew F. Wintercom 73] Assignee Paramount Textile MachineryCompany chl'cagovlll- ABSTRACT: This machine vends the balloon envelopeand acorpomnon mum's string in a capsule upon deposit of a coin andturning of a knob. Then a button on the machine is automatically lightedSEMI AUTOMATIC TOY BALLOON VENDING AND signallingrthecusttzmer that upondepression of the button, INFLATING M ACHINE after app ication o theneck of the balloon to a nonle ad 24 Claimsg Drawing Figs acent thebutton, the balloon will be inflated. The vending mechanism released foroperation of the knob by depositing a [52] U.S. Cl 194/1, coin has anovel arrangement of magnetically operable electri- /6 221/ 6, 221/ 1ZZZ/4, cal switches that are so connected in an electrical circuit that2 2/ they have to be operated in succession to light the signal light[51] Int-Cl G07f 1/00 and activate the inflation means, therebypreventing activa- [50] Field Of Search 194/2, 7, 9, [ion of theinflation means more than once per coin deposited. 25, 199 There is alsonovel memory means in the electrical circuit which permits depositingseveral coins at one time for the [56] References C'ted vending of anumber of balloon capsules in succession, the UNITED STATES PATENTSmemory means serving after the first of the balloons has been 2,989,9946/1961 Morris (221/ 199) inflated to cause the button to be lightedagain signalling that 3,010,557 11/1961 Weitzman n 194/63 the machine isready for another cycle, and so on until all of 3,155,212 1 1/ 1964Hines 194/10 the coins deposited have been accounted for.

PATENTED FEB 9 l97l.

' SHEET 2 0F 3 INVENTOR; RUDOLPH ALLISON Attorney PATENTEDFEB QIQH3561.579

'snmsnra I INVENTOR: RUDOLPH 1.. ALLISON 3 Attorney 3 SEMIAUTOMATIC TOYBALLOON VENDING AND INFLATING MACHINE This invention relates to asemiautomatic toy balloon vending and inflating machine.

The principal object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, andsubstantially foolproof, semiautomatic machine of the kind mentioned,and with that objective in view the machine of my invention provides thefollowing cycle:

1. A coin, such as a quarter, for example, is inserted;

2. A knob is turned manually to collect the coin or coins deposited,and, through a novel arrangement of two interconnected switches designedto prevent cheating" by manipulation of the knob, close an electricalcircuit and thereby activate a source of gas and air supply forinflation purposes and also dispense a capsule containing a string and aballoon envelope to be inflated;

3. The mouth end of the balloon envelope is applied to a nozzle on thefront of the machine and an illuminated button nearby is depressed torelease helium for the inflation, the flow of this gas being controlledby a timer switch, the inflation being completed with compressed air,the flow of which is also controlled by a timer switch, both timersbeing set into operation by the depression of the one button;

4. The mouth end of the balloon is thereafter slipped off the nozzle andsealed by tying the end of a string onto it in the usual way, the stringof suitable length being furnished with the balloon envelope in theaforementioned capsule; and

5. If more than one coin, such as a quarter for purchase of a balloon,has been deposited, for the purchase of more than one balloon, thepurchaser can turn the knob several times to dispense as many capsulesas have been paid for (up to four) and the button will light up soonafter completion of the first cycle, showing that the machine is readyfor the next cycle, and so on until all of the coins deposited have beenaccounted for.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a balloon vending and inflating machineembodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one of the capsules containingthe balloon envelope and its string;

FIG. 3 is a view on line 3-3 of FIG. I, with a closure for one side ofthe housing removed to illustrate the apparatus inside the housing;

FIG. 4 is a more or less diagrammatic illustration of the ballooncapsule vending mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the dispensing mechanism on the line 5-5 ofFIG. 4 showing the location of two reed switches on the fixed dispenserplate in, such relation to the location of six permanent magnets inequally spaced relation on the rotary dispenser plate, so that it isonly when two of these magnets have been moved past the two reedswitches in each coin released operation of the manually rotated knobthrough the 60 rotation of the rotary dispenser plate that the machineis set for a cycle, operation of both reed switches being essential forthe cycling of the machine so as to make the machine foolproof andcheat-proof, as later explained;

FIG. 5A is a top view of the dispensing mechanism on line A-A of FIG. I;

FIG. 6 is a section in the plane of line 66 of FIG. I to show theregistering relationship of the holes in the fixed and rotary plates tothe discharge chute at the point in the 60 turning of the rotary plateby the knob that a capsule will be dispensed; and

FIG. 7 is the electrical circuit.

The same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding pans inall of these figures.

Referring to the drawings and at first mainly to FIGS. I to 6, thehousing 8 which is usually placed in a conspicuous location, in ashopping center, for example, has a ledge 9 on one side thereof on whicha small housing 10 containing a dispensing mechanism 1] is secured undera second small housing 12 containing the capsules 13 to be dispensed.The

dispensing is done by turning a knob 14 after inserting a coin in theslot in the top of the coin box IS. The capsules I3, as shown, arevisible through a window I6 provided in the front of the housing 12. Thecapsule dispensed drops into a chute I7 from which it is easily removedby lifting the pivoted front closure 18. It is important for thepurchaser to read the operating instructions 19 provided in any suitablelocation, either on the front of the housing 8 or housing I2, so thatthe purchaser will known that he or she should first look for the button20 to light up and is not to press the button for discharge ofthe heliumgas and air until the neck of the balloon envelope has been properlyapplied to the nozzle 21. The capsule containing the balloon envelope 22and a string 23 is open at one end 24 and has a cap 25 removablyattached thereto. A hole 26 is provided in the front wall of the housing8 in proper relation to a waste receptacle 27 inside the housing toreceive the discarded capsules l3 and caps 25 Compresses helium gas isprovided in a tank 28 set on the bottom wall of the housing 8 andconnected through a tube 29 with the nozzle 21 by means ofa T-fittirrg30, the latter having another tube 31 connected therewith and extendingto an air compressor 32 mounted on the bottom wall of the housing 8alongside the tank 28. A closure panel (not shown) is removably lockedin place to close the open side of the housing. The switch 33 isoperated by the pushbutton 20 which includes a small light bulb 38 (FIG.7) that lights up the button automatically when the machine is ready foroperation. An extension cord 34 has a plug 35 on its outer end forinsertion in a suitable receptacle to furnish the electric current forall elec trical needs of the machine, as, for example, operation of themotor 36 (FIG. 7), the leads for which are shown at 37 in FIG. 3. Theelectric light 38 (FIG. 7) illuminates the button 20 only after theproper coin has been dropped into the box I5 and the knob I4 has beenturned to dispense the capsule I3, the lighting up of button 20 servingto signal the operator that all is in readiness for the start of a cycleand that he should therefore apply the neck of the balloon envelope 22to the noule 21 and press the button 20 get the balloon inflated, when,of course, the end of the string 23 should be wound on the neck and tiedtightly to seal it against loss of helium gas and air. A counter 39(FIG. 3) has its readings visible through a window 40 in one side of thehousing 8 so that the owner of the balloon vending and inflating machinehas a means of quickly checking on the number of balloons sold, as ameans of checking against the money recovered from the box I5, which theowner can unlock by insertion of the proper key in the lock 41. Akey-operated switch 42 (FIG. 3) is operable by insertion of the properkey in the lock 43 (FIG. I) to enable the owner, or one authorized byhim, as, for example, the proprietor of the store where the machine isstationed, to hand out a capsule from a reserve supply and then, by useof a key in the lock 43, activate the gas and air supply and cause thebutton 20 to be illuminated for the start of a cycle without having todeposit the coin otherwise required, such procedure being occasionallyrequired to settle the few complaints of individuals who allege acapsule was not dispensed or that the balloon received was defective.The box illustrated at 44 in FIG. 3 inside housing 8 contains nearly allof the electronic equipment shown in the circuit diagram (FIG. 7) towhich reference will be made later, after the operation of the reedswitches 45 and 46 by permanent magnets 47 in the operation of thedispensing mechanism 111 has been described.

In FIGS. 5, 5A and 6 a fixed bottom plate 48 is shown as having acircular hole 49 provided therein, which, in a 60 indexing movement ofthe rotary dispensing plate 50, will have one of six holes SI broughtinto register with the hole 49 as the operator turns the knob 14,whereby to drop a capsule 13 into the chute I7. There is only roomenough for one capsule in each of the openings 51 between the bottomplate 48 and a top plate 52, shown in FIG. 5A, the latter covering aportion of the rotary plate 50 that registers with the hole 48! in thedispensing operation, so a pile of capsules I3, like that shown in FIG.I, resting on top of the plate 52 and as much of the rotary plate 50 asis left uncovered by plate 52, cannot affect the dispensing operationand it is certain that only one capsule per coin deposited will bedispensed. No novelty is claimed insofar as the dispensing mechanismitself is concerned. However, the feature that makes this dispensingmechanism foolproof and cheat-proof insofar as insuring that the machinecannot be made to go into a cycle more than once per coin deposited isbelieved to be new and patentable. There are two circumferentiallyspaced radially disposed reed switches 45 and 46 affixed to the bottomof the plate 48 and it requires the mag' netic closing of both of thesereed switches by two permanent magnets 47 in a 60 turning of the rotaryplate 50 to complete the circuit for the start of a cycle. There are sixof these permanent magnets carried on rotor 50 spaced 60 apart and alldisposed radially as shown by the two that are shown in full lines inFIG. as carried on the under side of the rotor 50, each being secured inplace by a screw 53, as seen in FIG. 5A. The locations of the other fourpermanent magnets are in dicated in FIG. 5 by center lines aTa, b-b, ccand d-d, all six permanent magnets being located midway betweenneighboring holes 51 in the rotor 50. The reed switches 45 and 46, asclearly appears in FIG. 5, are spaced approximately 30 apart on oppositesides of any one of said permanent magnets 47. Thus, when a coin isdeposited in box 15, releasing the knob E t for a single indexingmovement of rotor 50 through 60, switch 45 is closed first andthereafter switch 46, line c-c representing the first permanent magnet47 to come into play and line d-d representing the next one to come intoplay. The switch 46 is close enough to the second magnet that it remainsclosed until the next indexing of rotor 50, which is of advantage so faras the key operation of switch 43 is concerned in that it simplifies andcheapens the switch 43, which need only close the circuit otherwiseclosed by switch 45. Hence, regardless of the looseness of the knob 14and the play between the gears in the train 54-57 (FIG. 4), the operatorcannot by any amount of jiggling have the knob 14 make the machine gointo a cycle more than once per coin deposited, inasmuch as bothswitches must be closed in succession and that is possible only bycompleting 60 indexing movement of rotor 50, and one such index is allthat is permitted per coin deposited.

Another important feature is the memory" feature of the present machineprovided by the novel circuit of FIG. 7 so that if more than onequarter, for example, is deposited for the purchase of more than oneballoon, the purchaser can turn the knob 14 several times to dispense asmany capsules as he is entitled to (up to four), and soon aftercompletion of the first cycle the button 20 will light up showing thatthe machine is ready for the next cycle, and so one until all of thecoins deposited (up to four) have been accounted for.

in operation, insertion of the coin releases the rotor 50 which carriesthe six permanent magnets 47 on the under side, and any two of theseupon turning of knob 20 through 60, after coin release of the dispensingmechanism, are arranged to operate the reed switches 45 and 46 insuccession, 45 first and 46 next. These switches are connected, as shownin FIG. 7, to the positive direct current supply and their closingproduces positive pulses into the flip-flop multivibrator 58, thefunction of which is to provide immunity from reed switch electricaldisturbances. After reed switch 46 closes, a positive pulse is stored inthe up-down counters 59 and 60 which include various components forrejection of electrical disturbance, whereby they can accept up to fourcycles from 58, allowing up to four quarters to be deposited at one timefor four balloons. If only one quarter is deposited, and accordinglyonly one signal is received in the up-down counter, a signal is sent toturn switch 61 off allowing capacitor 62 to charge through resistance63. When the voltage at 62 reaches the correct point the unijunctiontransistor 64 fires, providing a pulse to turn on silicon controlledrectifier 65, providing power to light the bulb 3i} for illumination ofpushbutton 2d of switch 33. When pushbutton 20 is depressed, the voltageacross the common terminals 66 and 67 is coupled to terminal 68, firinganother silicon controlled rectifier 69. This firing turns on the timertransistor 70, operating the helium solenoid 71 (FIG. 3) via terminals72 and 73. Rectifier 69 also grounds capacitor 74 allowing it to chargevia resistances 75 and 76, the latter being a time adjustment for thehelium gas, adjustablc by turning screw 76' (HO. 3). When capacitor 74reaches the correct level, unijunction transistor 77 fires and a pulseis coupled to another silicon-controlled rectifier 78, which also fires.The discharge of capacitor 74 produces a negative voltage on the anodeof rectifier 69, turning it off, and ending the helium cycle. Rectifier78 turns on time transistor 79 which causes circuit for the motor 36driving the air compressor 32 to be completed through terminals 73 and80. Rectifier 78 also grounds capacitor 81, allowing it to chargethrough resistances 82 and 83, the latter being the time adjustment forthe compressor, adjustable by turning screw 83' (HO. 3). When capacitor81 charges to the correct level, unijunction transistor 84 fires,turning off rectifier 78 and providing a pulse to the up-down counters59 and 60, telling these counters that one cycle has been completed,and, if more than one reed switch signal was received, there is issuedanother turnoff signal to unijunction transistor 64 to start the nextcycle, and so on for whatever coins (up to four) have been deposited.Unijunction transistors 61 and 64 provide circuit delay to insure that acoin has been inserted before providing the customer with a visualindication by the illuminated button 20 that he should put a balloon inplace on noule 21 for inflation. ln passing, 85 indicates a stepdowntransformer or the equivalent required for the lower voltage operationof the electronic equipment just described, while still providing linevoltage for operation of the compressor motor 36 and button illuminatinglamp 38. 42 represents the key-operated switch operable by a keyinserted at 43 (FIG. 1).

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of my invention. While a preferred embodimentof the invention has been illustrated and described, this is only forthe purpose of illustration, and it is to be understood that variousmodifications in structure will occur to a person skilled in this art.

lclaim:

1. An article vending and processing machine comprising, in combination,a housing for storage ofa pile of the articles to be vended one at atime, a rotor on which the articles are piled having evenlycircumferentially spaced opening provided therein to receive an articlein each, a bottom plate under said rotor having an opening providedtherein through which an article is dropped when said opening registerswith an opening in said rotor, a top plate over a portion of said rotorand over the opening in said bottom plate restricting each vending to asingle article, said rotor with said top and bottom plates forming partsof a coin controlled manually operated dispensing mechanism and saidrotor being adapted to be indexed a fraction of a turn upon each coinreleased manual operation of said rotor, the fractional turncorresponding to the distance between openings in said rotor,magnetically operable switch means connected in an electrical circuitcontrolling the opera tion of the machine for performing an operation oneach of the articles after the vending thereof, said switch means beingmounted on one of said plates in close enough proximity to said rotor tobe operable by magnet means carried thereon, and magnet means carried onsaid rotor in operative relationship to said switch means.

2. A machine as set forth in claim I wherein the magnet means comprisesa magnet between each pair of openings provided in said rotor, and saidswitch means comprises a pair of magnetically operable switches incircumferentially spaced relation relative to said rotor and so disposedthat two of said magnets operate said switches in succession in eachindexing movement of said rotor.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the magnets are elongatedpermanent magnets disposed substantially radially relative to saidrotor, and said magnetically operable switches are elongated reedswitches disposed substantially radially relative to said rotor.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including electronic memory meansin said electrical circuit pulsed by the firing of said magneticallyoperable switches each time a coin is deposited in the dispensingmechanism whereby to enable vending of a plurality of articles in closesuccession, the machine then operating on one after another of thearticles until all of the coins have been accounted for.

5. A balloon vending and inflating machine comprising, in combination, ahousing for storage of a pile of the packaged balloons to be vended, oneat a time, a rotor on which the packaged balloons are piled havingevenly circumferentially spaced openings provided therein to receive apackaged balloon in each, a bottom plate under said rotor having anopening provided therein through which a packaged balloon is droppedwhen said opening registers with an opening in said rotor, a top plateclosely covering a portion of said rotor and extending over the openingin said bottom plate restricting each vending to a single packagedballoon, said rotor with said top and bottom plates forming parts of acoin-controlled manually operated dispensing mechanism and said rotorbeing adapted to be indexed a fraction of a turn on each coin releasedmanual operation of said rotor, the fractional turn corresponding to thedistance between openings in said rotor, magnetically operable switchmeans connected in an electrical circuit controlling the inflationoperation of the machine in inflating each of the balloons after thevending thereof, said switch means being mounted on one of said platesin close enough proximity to said rotor to be operable by magnet meanscarried thereon, and magnet means carried on said rotor in operativerelationship to said switch means.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein the magnet means comprisesa magnet between each pair of openings provided in said rotor, and saidswitch'means comprises a pair of magnetically operable switches incircumferentially spaced relation relative to said rotor and so disposedthat two of said magnets operate said switches in succession in eachindexing movement of said rotor.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein the magnets are elongatedpermanent magnets disposed substantially radially relative to said rotorand so disposed that two of said magnets operate said switches insuccession in each indexing movement of said rotor.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 5 including electronic memory meansin said electrical circuit pulsed by the firing of said magneticallyoperable switches each time a coin is deposited in the dispensingmechanism whereby to enable vending of a plurality of articles in closesuccession, the machine then inflating the balloons vended one afteranother until all of the coins have been accounted for.

9. in an article vending and processing machine comprising, incombination, a housing for storage of a pile of the articles to bevended, one at a time, a manually movable vending element on which thearticles are piled having an opening provided therein to receive one ofsaid articles, top and bottom plates above and below said element, thelower plate having an opening provided therein through which an articlevended is dropped when said opening registers with the opening in saidelement, magnetically operable switch means connected in an electricalcircuit controlling the operation of the machine for performing anoperation on each of the articles after the vending thereof, said switchmeans being mounted on the lower one of said plates in close enoughproximity to said element to be operable by magnet means carriedthereon, and magnet means carried on said element in operativerelationship to said switch means in the dispensing operation.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein the switch means comprisesa pair of magnetically operable switches and the magnet means comprisestwo magnets, which in a dispensing operation serve to operate saidswitches in succession.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 110 wherein the magnets areelongated permanent magnets and said magnetically operable switches areelongated reed switches arranged to come into alignment with the reedswitches in succession in each dispensing operation.

12. A machine as set forth in claim 8 including electronic memory meansin said electrical circuit pulsed by the firing of said magneticallyoperable switches each time a coin is deposited in the dispensingmechanism whereby to enable vending of a plurality of articles in closesuccession, the machine then operating on one after another of thearticles until all of the coins have been accounted for,

13. A balloon vending and inflating machine comprising, in combination,a housing for storage of a pile of the packaged balloons to be vended,one at a time, a manually movable vending element on which the articlesare piled having an opening provided therein to receive a packagedballoon, top and bottom plates above and below said elements, the lowerplate having an opening therein through which a packaged balloon vendedis dropped when said! opening registers with the opening in saidelement, magnetically operable switch means connected in an electricalcircuit controlling the operation of the machine for performing aninflation operation on each of the balloons after the vending thereof,said switch means being mounted on the lower one of said plates in closeenough proximity to said element to be operable by magnet means carriedthereon, and magnet means carried on said element in operativerelationship to said switch means in the dispensing operation.

14. A machine as set forth in claim 13 wherein the switch meanscomprises a pair of magnetically operable switches and the magnet meanscomprises two magnets, which in a dispensing operation serve to operatesaid switches in succession.

15. A machine as set forth in claim [14 wherein the magnets areelongated permanent magnets and said magnetically operable switches areelongated reed switches arranged to come into alignment with the reedswitches in succession in each dispensing operation.

16. A machine as set forth in claim 13 including electronic memory meansin said electrical circuit pulsed by the firing of said magneticallyoperable switches each time a coin is deposited and the dispensingmechanism is operated, whereby to enable vending of a plurality ofarticles in close succession, the machine then inflating the balloonsvended one after another until all of the coins have been accounted for.

7. in a balloon vending and inflating machine comprising housing meanshaving balloon dispensing means therein operable manually from outsidethe housing means upon depositing a coin in a coin release on thedispensing means and manual operation of a knob or the like on theoutside of said housing means, and inflating means in said housing meansfor supplying a lighter than air gas under pressure and compressed airto a nozzle projecting from said housing means, the gas and airdischarge being under electronic control of means in said housing meanselectrically connected in circuit with a source of electric currentsupply and said dispensing means, the improvement which consists in anelectrically operable signal means connected in the aforesaid circuit toinitiate a cycle by indicating when the inflating means is ready tooperate and the balloon should be applied to the nozzle for inflation.

18. A machine as set forth in claim 117 including a manually operablepushbutton, the depression of which controls delivery of the gas and airto said nozzle for inflation of the balloon, said button being operablefor the purpose mentioned only after operation of the signal means.

19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein the electrically operablesignal means comprises a light bulb for illuminating said pushbutton.

20. A machine as set forth in claim l7 including electrical memory meansin said electrical circuit arranged to be pulsed as a counter each timea coin is inserted and a balloon is vended, whereby upon completion of avending and inflating cycle for the first of a plurality of coinsdeposited at a given time the signal means and inflating means areadapted to be cycled repeatedly until all of the coins deposited at onetime have been accounted for.

21. A machine as set forth in claim 17 wherein the balloon dispensingmeans includes a pair of magnetically operable switches both of whichmust be closed in succession to complete the electrical circuit foractivation of the inflating means and closing of the signal circuit,said switches being operable by any neighboring pair of magnets of aplurality of evenly spaced magnets mounted on a rotor that is indexed apredetermined amount for each coin deposited.

22. A machine as set forth in claim 17 wherein the balloon dispensingmeans includes a pair of magnetically operable switches both of whichmust be closed in succession to complete the electrical circuit foractivation of the inflating means and closing of the signal circuit,said switches being operable by any neighboring pair of magnets of aplurality of evenly spaced magnets mounted on a rotor that is indexed apredetermined amount for each coin deposited, one of said magneticallyoperable switches being so disposed relative to the second magnet at theend of an indexing movement to remain closed until the next indexingmovement ofthe rotor.

23. A machine as set forth in claim 17 including a key operable switchin said housing means operable by a key inserted in a lock exposed onthe outside of said housing means said key operable switch being soconnected in the electrical circuit to activate the inflation means andsignal means independently of the coin operated balloon dispensingmeans.

24. A machine as set forth in claim 22 including a key operable switchin said housing means operable by a key inserted in a lock exposed onthe outside of said housing means, said key operable switch being soconnected in the electrical circuit to activate the inflation means andsignal means independently of the coin operated balloon dispensingmeans, said key operable switch means serving to close the circuitotherwise closed by the other of said pair of magnetically operableswitches.

1. An article vending and processing machine comprising, in combination,a housing for storage of a pile of the articles to be vended one at atime, a rotor on which the articles are piled having evenlycircumferentially spaced opening provided therein to receive an articlein each, a bottom plate under said rotor having an opening providedtherein through which an article is dropped when said opening registerswith an opening in said rotor, a top plate over a portion of said rotorand over the opening in said bottom plate restricting each vending to asingle article, said rotor with said top and bottom plates forming partsof a coin controlled manually operated dispensing mechanism and saidrotor being adapted to be indexed a fraction of a turn upon each coinreleased manual operation of said rotor, the fractional turncorresponding to the distance between openings in said rotor,magnetically operable switch means connected in an electrical circuitcontrolling the operation of the machine for performing an operation oneach of the articles after the vending thereof, said switch means beingmounted on one of said plates in close enough proximity to said rotor tobe operable by magnet means carried thereon, and magnet means carried onsaid rotor in operative relationship to said switch means.
 2. A machineas set forth in claim 1 wherein the magnet means comprises a magnetbetween each pair of openings provided in said rotor, and said switchmeans comprises a pair of magnetically operable switches incircumferentially spaced relation relative to said rotor and so disposedthat two of said magnets operate said switches in succession in eachindexing movement of said rotor.
 3. A machine as set forth in claim 2wherein the magnets are elongated permanent magnets disposedsubstantially radially relative to said rotor, and said magneticallyoperable switches are elongated reed switches disposed substantiallyradially relative to said rotor.
 4. A machine as set forth in claim 1including electronic memory means in said electrical circuit pulsed bythe firing of said magnetically operable switches each time a coin isdeposited in the dispensing mechanism whereby to enable vending of aplurality of articles in close succession, the machine then operating onone after another of the articles until all of the coins have beenaccounted for.
 5. A balloon vending and inflating machine comprising, incombination, a housing for storage of a pile of the packaged balloons tobe vended, one at a time, a rotor on which the packaged balloons arepiled having evenly circumferentially spaced openings provided thereinto receive a packaged balloon in each, a bottom plate under said rotorhaving an opening provided therein through which a packaged balloon isdropped when said opening registers with an opening in said rotor, a topplAte closely covering a portion of said rotor and extending over theopening in said bottom plate restricting each vending to a singlepackaged balloon, said rotor with said top and bottom plates formingparts of a coin-controlled manually operated dispensing mechanism andsaid rotor being adapted to be indexed a fraction of a turn on each coinreleased manual operation of said rotor, the fractional turncorresponding to the distance between openings in said rotor,magnetically operable switch means connected in an electrical circuitcontrolling the inflation operation of the machine in inflating each ofthe balloons after the vending thereof, said switch means being mountedon one of said plates in close enough proximity to said rotor to beoperable by magnet means carried thereon, and magnet means carried onsaid rotor in operative relationship to said switch means.
 6. A machineas set forth in claim 5 wherein the magnet means comprises a magnetbetween each pair of openings provided in said rotor, and said switchmeans comprises a pair of magnetically operable switches incircumferentially spaced relation relative to said rotor and so disposedthat two of said magnets operate said switches in succession in eachindexing movement of said rotor.
 7. A machine as set forth in claim 6wherein the magnets are elongated permanent magnets disposedsubstantially radially relative to said rotor and so disposed that twoof said magnets operate said switches in succession in each indexingmovement of said rotor.
 7. In a balloon vending and inflating machinecomprising housing means having balloon dispensing means thereinoperable manually from outside the housing means upon depositing a coinin a coin release on the dispensing means and manual operation of a knobor the like on the outside of said housing means, and inflating means insaid housing means for supplying a lighter than air gas under pressureand compressed air to a nozzle projecting from said housing means, thegas and air discharge being under electronic control of means in saidhousing means electrically connected in circuit with a source ofelectric current supply and said dispensing means, the improvement whichconsists in an electrically operable signal means connected in theaforesaid circuit to initiate a cycle by indicating when the inflatingmeans is ready to operate and the balloon should be applied to thenozzle for inflation.
 8. A machine as set forth in claim 5 includingelectronic memory means in said electrical circuit pulsed by the firingof said magnetically operable switches each time a coin is deposited inthe dispensing mechanism whereby to enable vending of a plurality ofarticles in close succession, the machine then inflating the balloonsvended one after another until all of the coins have been accounted for.9. In an article vending and processing machine comprising, incombination, a housing for storage of a pile of the articles to bevended, one at a time, a manually movable vending element on which thearticles are piled having an opening provided therein to receive one ofsaid articles, top and bottom plates above and below said element, thelower plate having an opening provided therein through which an articlevended is dropped when said opening registers with the opening in saidelement, magnetically operable switch means connected in an electricalcircuit controlling the operation of the machine for performing anoperation on each of the articles after the vending thereof, said switchmeans being mounted on the lower one of said plates in close enoughproximity to said element to be operable by magnet means carriedthereon, and magnet means carried on said element in operativerelationship to said switch means in the dispensing operation.
 10. Amachine as set forth in claim 9 wherein the switch means comprises apair of magnetically operable switches and the magnet means comprisestwo magnets, which in a dispensing operation serve to operate saidswitches in succession.
 11. A machine as set forth in claim 10 whereinthe magnets are elongated permanent magnets and said magneticallyoperable switches are elongated reed switches arranged to come intoalignment with the reed switches in succession in each dispensingoperation.
 12. A machine as set forth in claim 8 including electronicmemory means in said electrical circuit pulsed by the firing of saidmagnetically operable switches each time a coin is deposited in thedispensing mechanism whereby to enable vending of a plurality ofarticles in close succession, the machine then operating on one afteranother of the articles until all of the coins have been accounted for.13. A balloon vending and inflating machine comprising, in combination,a housing for storage of a pile of the packaged balloons to be vended,one at a time, a manually movable vending element on which the articlesare piled having an openiNg provided therein to receive a packagedballoon, top and bottom plates above and below said elements, the lowerplate having an opening therein through which a packaged balloon vendedis dropped when said opening registers with the opening in said element,magnetically operable switch means connected in an electrical circuitcontrolling the operation of the machine for performing an inflationoperation on each of the balloons after the vending thereof, said switchmeans being mounted on the lower one of said plates in close enoughproximity to said element to be operable by magnet means carriedthereon, and magnet means carried on said element in operativerelationship to said switch means in the dispensing operation.
 14. Amachine as set forth in claim 13 wherein the switch means comprises apair of magnetically operable switches and the magnet means comprisestwo magnets, which in a dispensing operation serve to operate saidswitches in succession.
 15. A machine as set forth in claim 14 whereinthe magnets are elongated permanent magnets and said magneticallyoperable switches are elongated reed switches arranged to come intoalignment with the reed switches in succession in each dispensingoperation.
 16. A machine as set forth in claim 13 including electronicmemory means in said electrical circuit pulsed by the firing of saidmagnetically operable switches each time a coin is deposited and thedispensing mechanism is operated, whereby to enable vending of aplurality of articles in close succession, the machine then inflatingthe balloons vended one after another until all of the coins have beenaccounted for.
 18. A machine as set forth in claim 17 including amanually operable pushbutton, the depression of which controls deliveryof the gas and air to said nozzle for inflation of the balloon, saidbutton being operable for the purpose mentioned only after operation ofthe signal means.
 19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein theelectrically operable signal means comprises a light bulb forilluminating said pushbutton.
 20. A machine as set forth in claim 17including electrical memory means in said electrical circuit arranged tobe pulsed as a counter each time a coin is inserted and a balloon isvended, whereby upon completion of a vending and inflating cycle for thefirst of a plurality of coins deposited at a given time the signal meansand inflating means are adapted to be cycled repeatedly until all of thecoins deposited at one time have been accounted for.
 21. A machine asset forth in claim 17 wherein the balloon dispensing means includes apair of magnetically operable switches both of which must be closed insuccession to complete the electrical circuit for activation of theinflating means and closing of the signal circuit, said switches beingoperable by any neighboring pair of magnets of a plurality of evenlyspaced magnets mounted on a rotor that is indexed a predetermined amountfor each coin deposited.
 22. A machine as set forth in claim 17 whereinthe balloon dispensing means includes a pair of magnetically operableswitchEs both of which must be closed in succession to complete theelectrical circuit for activation of the inflating means and closing ofthe signal circuit, said switches being operable by any neighboring pairof magnets of a plurality of evenly spaced magnets mounted on a rotorthat is indexed a predetermined amount for each coin deposited, one ofsaid magnetically operable switches being so disposed relative to thesecond magnet at the end of an indexing movement to remain closed untilthe next indexing movement of the rotor.
 23. A machine as set forth inclaim 17 including a key operable switch in said housing means operableby a key inserted in a lock exposed on the outside of said housingmeans, said key operable switch being so connected in the electricalcircuit to activate the inflation means and signal means independentlyof the coin operated balloon dispensing means.
 24. A machine as setforth in claim 22 including a key operable switch in said housing meansoperable by a key inserted in a lock exposed on the outside of saidhousing means, said key operable switch being so connected in theelectrical circuit to activate the inflation means and signal meansindependently of the coin operated balloon dispensing means, said keyoperable switch means serving to close the circuit otherwise closed bythe other of said pair of magnetically operable switches.